Senators sit in awe within the massive chamber of the Galactic Senate, under the watchful eye of their own appointed Emperor, as ever separate from the efforts of the Triumvirate and other factions in the galaxy. The Emperor is giving a speech to inaugurate a new term, after the slow end to the last one. Intrigue is the cornerstone of the factions outside the Senate... a slow loosening of the restrictions between peace and war...

But the Emperor will not have that madness return under his watch. Focusing, he continues to speak.“The battles across the galaxy that have been are ones which have originated here. But, that time is over now. Plague has been pacified, the One Sith have been routed, and order has been restored to the galaxy.

“Twelve years after the final death of Darth Krayt...” said His Imperial Majesty, letting his words flow, his voice carry, and looking as if he was speaking to each and every Senator in turn, “we have peace.”

That was when the bombs exploded.

Ripping apart the chamber, funnelling a wave of fire and debris up through the Senate, tossing Senate pods as if they were nothing more than flak in a gale force hurricane. The fire crested, engulfing the Emperor’s podium, itself elevated above that of the Chancellor... and blowing the roof off the Senate.

Similar such explosions are felt within the buildings of politicians across the galaxy...